A HEADTEACHER unfairly sacked from Ripon Cathedral choir school because of pressure from parents has been awarded £58,000 in damages by an employment tribunal.

The tribunal ruled she had been the victim of sexual discrimination because of her marrage.

Mrs Susan Cave of Thirsk was sacked from her £40,000 a year post before being able to take up the appointment in September.

The tribunal in Leeds was told how a group of 18 parents at the school issued an ultimatum to the governors, telling them to sack Mrs Cave or they would withdraw their children.

The ultimatum came after it was revealed her solicitor husband, Mr Jeremy Cave, faced a disciplinary hearing.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Methuen, was one of four governors who resigned in protest at the sacking.

He told the tribunal that it was like appearing before a "kangaroo court" with "a lot of hysteria and shouting" and the situation was "riddled with sexism from top to bottom."

Afterwards he told the Darlington & Stockton Times that he felt "justice, decency and common sense had prevailed."

On one occasion, parents confronted the 43-year-old telling her it was "impossible" for her to take up the post, while others sent letters of criticism to the governors.

Mr Timothy Hartley, acting for Mrs Cave, said: "You couldn't get more discriminatory than to discriminate against a person on the basis of her husband's alleged acts."

This was a reference to an investigation by the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors into Mrs Cave's husband's firm of solicitors in Thirsk which started in the summer. Mr Cave, who is coroner for northern North Yorkshire, is to face a disciplinary hearing in the future.

Mrs Cave was appointed head of the school a year ago while still head of the pre-prep department at Aysgarth school, near Bedale.

After the hearing Mrs Cave said: "I am extremely sorry that proceedings ended up in the tribunal but I wish the staff and the children well at Ripon Cathedral choir school."

Mrs Cave has returned to university to study an MBA and may return to teaching at a later date.

Acting head teacher at the school, Canon Robert Western, said: "We are obviously very disappointed. Whether or not this will go to appeal will be decided by the governors at a later date."